The United States of America and Tanzania are edging close to sealing a US$1.4 billion (Sh180 billion) minerals deal, even as Samia Suluhu’s government faces international backlash.
President Suluhu on Monday held talks with Acting US ambassador Andrew Lentz in Chamwino State House, just a day before today’s planned protests over human rights abuses.
Tanzania described the meeting as a forum to advance areas of bilateral cooperation and affirm the shared commitment to a ‘modern, mutually beneficial partnership’.
“Ambassador Lentz, accompanied by the Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs, underscored Washington’s determination to reset the relationship and deepen economic, political and security collaboration between the two nations,” a communique from Chwamino last evening read in part.
State House Deputy Spokesman Shaaban Kissu revealed that the talks centred on three mineral deals estimated at around US1.4 billion (about Sh180 billion) worth of investments.
They include LNG Project, estimated at US$42 million, a natural gas development involving energy companies designed to unlock Tanzania’s vast offshore gas reserves.
The second deal has been identified as the Tembo Nickel Project, a US$942 million investment, located in Ngara area focused on nickel, an essential mineral for electric vehicle batteries.
The third project is listed as Mahenge Graphite Project valued at US$300 million; one of the world’s largest high-grade graphite projects, which is under development to support the fast-growing battery and renewable energy industries.
“As a non-aligned country, Tanzania is open, ready and committed to working with all partners who respect our sovereignty and share our vision for prosperity,” Suluhu told the US envoy, according to the statement.
At 5.27 pm last evening, the US Embassy in Tanzania posted on its social media page, “Today, CdA Lentz engaged in a candid exchange with President Samia Suluhu Hassan about the present and future state of the US-Tanzania bilateral relationship.”
The meeting came as tension escalated following a planned protest today to coincide with Independence Day, to demand answers following the election-related clashes in which hundreds were killed by police officers.
It took place just a few days after Washington announced that it was ‘reviewing its relations’ with Dodoma due to ongoing repression of religious freedom and free speech, the presence of persistent obstacles to U.S. investment, and disturbing violence against civilians in the days leading up to and following Tanzania’s October 29 elections.
“The United States cannot overlook actions that jeopardise the safety of our citizens, or the security and stability of the region. The future of our bilateral relationship with the Government of Tanzania will be based on its actions,” the US State Department said in a statement issued on 4th December, 2025.
The government has since cancelled public celebrations for the day and asked its citizens to stay at home.
Tanzania has yet to release any data on the number of casualties, even as pressure is piling on the Suluhu administration to release the bodies of the fatalities to their families for burial.
Human rights groups and opposition parties say over 2,000 were massacred during the four-day chaos marked by an internet shutdown as Tanzanians protested from October 29, Election Day.
Last week, citing "credible reports", 17 missions said there was "evidence of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests", and the "concealment of bodies" by Tanzanian authorities during the unrest.
In a joint statement on December 5, the coalition of Western embassies in Tanzania urged President Suluhu's government to free political prisoners and allow detainees to get legal and medical help.
"We call on the authorities to urgently release all the bodies of the dead to their families," the statement issued by the European Union delegation and several EU member countries said.
